The district is named after Major James Abbott, the first deputy commissioner of Hazara (1849–1853). During British rule Abbottabad became the capital of Hazara division, which was named after and contained the Hazara valley, a small valley in the outermost Himalayas, between the Indus in the west and Kashmir in the east. Abbottabad is a district in the North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan. The district covers an area of 1,969 km with the city of Abbottabad being the principal town of this district. Neighbouring districts are Mansehra to the north, Muzaffarabad to the east, Haripur to the west, and Rawalpindi to the south. Abbottabad, the headquarters of Hazara Division, situated at an altitude of 1,225 m (4002 ft) above sea level and surrounded by refreshing green hills of Sarban, is one of the best-known hill resorts of Pakistan. It is situated on the Karakoram Highway (Silk Route) to China, 120 Km from Rawalpindi/Islamabad and 205 Km from Peshawar. The climate is temperate with 4 distinct seasons-springs, summer, autumn and winter. The summer is pleasant while the winter is moderately cold with occasional snowfall.

The main tribes are the Abbasies, Tanolis, Awans, Rajputs, Jadoons, Qureshis, Karlals, Sheikhs, and the Syeds. Abbottabad is a small neat and clean town in spacious valleys surrounded by green hills. It is a popular summer resort, located at the end of Murree-Abbottabad hill tract, noted for its verdant parks, gardens, golf course and pine covered hills. Major Bazars of the area include Sarban chowk, Ghaniadda bazar, and Cantt plaza. Abbottabad is blessed with many natural resources. It is especially famous for the production of agricultural products, mining, tourism, industries of various products, and dependence on natural resources. All these produce play an important role in economic uplift of the people of Abbottabad.Some of the minerals mined within the district are barite, dolomite, granite, gypsum, limestone, magnesite, marble, phosphate, red ochre and red oxide.